おべんとう

Japanese Culture

Have you ever heard the word "kyara-ben?"
A "kyara-ben" is a lunch box with pictures of animals or anime Character's faces made out of rice and vegetables.
I tried making one for the first time. Making it is fun, eating it is delicious, please try making one once!

Bear Rice balls

Ingredients:

Tools:

1

If you don't have onions, rice and ketchup only is ok. Also, you can also put vegetables you like or ham in as well.

2

Shape the ketchup rice in to a face using the plastic wrap. Please leave some rice for the ears

3

With the left over rice, like the face, make the ears using the plastic wrap.

4

Use the toothpick to cut out the shapes of the ears and nose with the cheese.

5

Put them on the face.

6

Next, cut some boiled spinach and twist them around to create the eyes and nose. You can use a leafy vegetable from your own country too.

7

Also, with a long, slim piece of spinach, make the mouth shape.

8

Once you place the eyes, nose, and mouth, the Bear Rice Ball is done!

For people who want to make an even easier face, please try using the beans from your country. By just placing them down, you can make a cute face like this!

This was made using green beans.

This was made using black beans.

Flower: Sausage

Ingredients:

Sausage

Corn

1

Cut the sausage in half.

2

Cut the sausage again, down the middle, about halfway.

3

Do it two more times, in the same way.

4

When you boil it or cook it, it will open up.

5

Place some corn in the middle and you're done! Instead of corn, you can also use other vegetables or cheese!

Flower: Boiled egg

Ingredients:

Egg

1

Boil an egg.
Insert the point of a knife into the middle of the egg and take it out.

2

Next, change the angle and insert the knife again. Continue doing this, turn the egg, and you'll make a full lap.

3

Slowly split the two halves apart.

4

You're done!

I introduced how to make "kyara-ben"!

I have two children. One is a 4th year student in elementary school and the other is 5 years old (nursery school student).
Usually, they receive a school lunch, but sometimes, they have days where they bring a lunch box.
For those times, I think of my children's happy faces and enjoy making kyara-ben for them.